Michael Sevilla Hughes, class supervisor – well being at NHS Shared Enterprise Providers (NHS SBS) (Credit score: NHS SBS)
NHS Shared Enterprise Providers (NHS SBS) has launched an ‘On-line Sexual Well being Providers’ framework settlement designed to assist native authorities and NHS healthcare organisations ship important sexual and reproductive well being (SRH) companies on-line.
The framework settlement permits public sector our bodies to obtain testing, analysis and therapy companies from pre-approved suppliers with digital provides, giving communities on-line entry to care, with out the necessity for in-person consultations.
Providers which may be procured by way of the framework embody contraceptive recommendation and self-tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Michael Sevilla Hughes, class supervisor – well being at NHS SBS, mentioned: “For a lot of people, in-person consultations can really feel intimidating or embarrassing, probably delaying entry to care.
“On-line channels can show much less prohibitive and encourage customers ahead to check, deal with and take preventative measures.
“Utilizing this framework settlement, native authorities and NHS organisations can streamline the commissioning of on-line companies that deal with three key areas: STI testing and therapy, contraception, and HIV prevention.
“The digital component may help enhance attain and scale back appointment waits and prices.”
The framework settlement runs from 29 October 2025 to 29 October 2029, with an choice to increase for as much as two years.
It helps Degree 3 sexual well being clinics – specialist neighborhood sexual well being companies which embody the availability of confidential and open-access sexual well being companies – to modernise HIV therapy pathways.
Clinics can join with suppliers providing distant administration options protecting HIV prevention, post-exposure therapy and ongoing monitoring, corresponding to digital consultations, dwelling supply of antiretroviral treatment and home-testing kits for normal well being checks.
Sevilla Hughes added: “The federal government’s 10 12 months plan units out three radical shifts for healthcare – from hospital to neighborhood, analogue to digital and illness to prevention, ambitions which the framework settlement aligns with.
“By providing discreet, handy, and accessible digital pathways, on-line and digital choices can encourage earlier engagement with important sexual healthcare and therapy.
“In tandem with typical pathways, this method improves attain to extra numerous populations and bridges gaps in areas the place native clinics or assist companies are restricted, serving to to form a extra inclusive, preventative and future-ready NHS.”
Lot 1 of the framework covers on-line STI testing and therapy, offering a service for the web analysis and therapy of STIs, together with HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia.
The service contains on-line triaging, laboratory pathology, distant end result administration, and therapy prescriptions.
Lot 2 focuses on offering accessible on-line contraception, together with routine and emergency hormonal contraceptive drugs, self-administered contraceptive injections and being pregnant testing. It contains on-line condom distribution companies.
Lot 3 addresses HIV prevention and therapy with on-line companies for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Earlier this month, NHS SBS launched a £150 million framework settlement for digital dictation, speech recognition and outsourced transcription companies in addition to its Digital Office Options 2 framework settlement value £2.5 bn.
